Moving to Sierra Leone from China

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from China to Sierra Leone? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from China to Sierra Leone, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Freetown averages 86°F vs 68°F in Shanghai, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from China to Sierra Leone.

Living there in 2020
187 ↓ 4% vs 2015

people born in China live in Sierra Leone · UN DESA

Who's moving to Sierra Leone?

Top countries of origin for Sierra Leone's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Sierra Leone compared to China.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

CN
0.5
SL
2.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CN
17.4
SL
13.8

China generally does better on safety, though Sierra Leone leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CN
$1,487
SL
$159
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CN
31.1
SL
1.3

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CN
64.0
SL
97.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CN
9.3t
SL
0.2t

China generally does better on environment, though Sierra Leone leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CN
47.2
SL
0.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CN
41.5%
SL
0.5%

China generally does better on infrastructure, though Sierra Leone leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CN
4.6%
SL
3.1%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

CN
$13,862
SL
$846

China generally does better on employment & economy, though Sierra Leone leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

CN
78.0 yrs
SL
62.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CN
4.1
SL
54.6

China performs better than Sierra Leone across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2018–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), State Administration of Taxation (2016), National Revenue Authority (2014), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this

Weather in Sierra Leone vs China

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Shanghai Rain: 43.8 in/yr (1112 mm)
68° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Freetown Rain: 116.0 in/yr (2946 mm)
86° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Shanghai Freetown
Jan–Mar 49°/36°F (10°/2°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/60°F (23°/16°C) 87°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) 84°/74°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 62°/47°F (17°/9°C) 86°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Shanghai Freetown
Jan 46°/33°F (7.7°/0.5°C) 86°/75°F (29.9°/23.8°C)
Feb 47°/35°F (8.6°/1.5°C) 87°/75°F (30.3°/24.0°C)
Mar 55°/41°F (12.7°/5.1°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Apr 65°/51°F (18.6°/10.6°C) 88°/77°F (31.2°/24.8°C)
May 74°/60°F (23.5°/15.7°C) 88°/76°F (30.9°/24.4°C)
Jun 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.3°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.6°C)
Jul 89°/77°F (31.6°/24.8°C) 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.1°C)
Aug 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.7°C) 83°/73°F (28.4°/23.0°C)
Sep 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.1°C)
Oct 72°/58°F (22.3°/14.7°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Nov 62°/47°F (16.7°/8.6°C) 86°/75°F (30.1°/24.0°C)
Dec 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.4°C) 85°/75°F (29.7°/24.1°C)

Data: China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration, Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency

Can you move from China to Sierra Leone?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between China and Sierra Leone. To live, work, or study long-term in Sierra Leone, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sierra Leone's immigration authority.

China passport

China passport holder visiting Sierra Leone

Visa on Arrival
China passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone passport

Sierra Leone passport holder visiting China

Visa Required
Sierra Leone passport holders need a visa to enter China.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Sierra Leone?

Connectivity is usually fine (Sierra Leone: 0.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Sierra Leone offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Sierra Leone safe for expats?

China generally does better on safety, though Sierra Leone leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Sierra Leone is 2.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China.

How is healthcare in Sierra Leone compared to China?

Sierra Leone generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Sierra Leone, compared to 31.1 in China. Sierra Leone scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).

What's the weather like in Sierra Leone compared to China?

The average high temperature in Freetown is 86°F, compared to 68°F in Shanghai. Freetown receives around 116.0 in of rainfall per year, while Shanghai gets 43.8 in.

What language do they speak in Sierra Leone?

The official language in Sierra Leone is English. In China, the official language is Chinese.

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At a Glance

CN SL
Population 1,406,585,000 8,819,794
Currency Chinese Yuan (CN¥) Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL)
Languages Chinese English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +86 +232
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 —